Senior Director, US Policy Intelligence and Strategy

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine•Washington, DC

1d•$178,000 - $307,050•Onsite

About The Position

The Policy Intelligence & Strategy Lead is a senior role that combines advanced Medicare health policy research with strategic leadership to support a high-performing U.S. Policy organization. This individual brings deep expertise in Medicare policy, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and novel payment reform to define and lead a forward-looking research agenda for highly innovative therapies, emerging treatment modalities, medical technologies, and digital health solutions. The role focuses on studying and shaping new coverage, coding, reimbursement, and payment pathways that can support timely patient access to breakthrough innovation, while developing policy solutions across core priority areas including drug pricing, coverage, payment, and coding for both pharmaceuticals and medical technology. In addition to research leadership, this role plays a critical part in shaping strategy and ensuring execution by guiding policy priorities, planning, and governance. The position brings a rare and highly valuable dual-sector perspective across both Innovative Medicine and MedTech—an important differentiator for advancing novel payment models that must work for breakthrough pharmaceuticals, emerging therapies, medical devices, diagnostics, and digital technologies. The role also serves on the U.S. Policy Organization Leadership Team and partners cross-functionally to align research and policy strategy with enterprise priorities.

Requirements

Master’s degree is required, such as a Master of Business Administration, Master of Public Health, or Juris Doctor, in economics, public policy, health policy, or a related field; a doctoral degree is highly preferred, such as a Doctor of Philosophy or Doctor of Public Health, with a focus on U.S. health policy and leadership
At least ten years of experience in health policy, government affairs, policy research, policy operations, or a related field; established credibility in an area of expertise, with strong preference for direct government experience inside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Strong understanding of U.S. federal and state health policy, coverage, coding, reimbursement, and payment reform; required: deep Medicare expertise and strong working knowledge of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) policy and regulatory processes
Rare dual-sector experience across both pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical policy and MedTech policy is strongly preferred and considered a significant differentiator, including experience with drug pricing reforms, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (TCET) pathway, the Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology (MCIT) program, and emerging payment models for digital technologies and other breakthrough innovations
Ability to connect payment, evidence, access, and adoption challenges across medicines, devices, diagnostics, and digital solutions—and shape policy strategies that reflect the full breadth of Johnson & Johnson innovation
Demonstrated experience working with and engaging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), directly or through formal stakeholder channels, including translating CMS policy developments into enterprise implications and shaping external inputs such as regulatory comment letters, policy positions, or payer and provider stakeholder engagement
Examples of Medicare and CMS policy achievements may include influencing CMS rules with evidence-based analysis and stakeholder input; advancing Medicare coverage, coding, reimbursement, and payment pathways for therapies, medical technologies, diagnostics, and digital health solutions; translating policy changes into enterprise impact assessments and action plans; and assessing implications of drug pricing reforms and other novel payment approaches for highly innovative products
Prior experience at a think tank, government, academia, or in a pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical or MedTech policy function is strongly preferred; distinguished experience or leadership across both sectors is especially valued
Ability to translate insights from one sector to the other, identify where existing payment systems fall short for breakthrough innovation, and develop integrated policy approaches that advance patient access across medicines, devices, diagnostics, and digital technologies
Exceptional writing and editing skills; ability to distill complex policy research into clear, audience-appropriate messages
High executive presence, emotional intelligence, judgment, and polish; ability to represent the organization credibly with senior internal leaders, external stakeholders, policymakers, trade associations, and cross-functional partners in high-stakes settings
Experience with policy operations, project management, and program management office functions in a complex, matrixed organization is preferred; demonstrated ability to manage business planning, goals and objectives processes, cross-functional communications, governance, and execution routines
Interest in or experience with mentoring junior staff and ability to collaborate collegially with staff at all levels; strong experience developing and managing partnerships with external research collaborators and consultants
Excellent communication, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration skills
Ability to manage team budget and resources; experience supporting or owning business planning and long-range financial planning processes is preferred
Must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

Deep subject matter expertise in U.S. health policy, including Medicare, Medicaid, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) policy, coverage, coding, reimbursement, and novel payment reform.
Rare dual-sector experience across both MedTech and pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical policy is strongly preferred and considered a significant differentiator.
Strong research capabilities, including policy analysis and evidence generation for breakthrough therapies, medical technologies, diagnostics, digital health solutions, and other emerging innovations.
Exceptional policy writing skills with the ability to develop clear and impactful materials, along with emerging competency with AI tools.
Deep experience with policy monitoring, research proposal development and agenda-setting, financial impact modeling, regulatory comment letter development, and policy education program management.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate the ability to drive the full policy development lifecycle in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) environment—from identifying a policy opportunity or barrier, developing the evidence base and policy strategy, engaging stakeholders, shaping regulatory or subregulatory action, and achieving a tangible policy, coverage, coding, reimbursement, or payment outcome
Function as an industry-leading Medicare policy, coverage, coding, reimbursement, and novel payment reform subject matter expert for highly innovative therapies, emerging treatment modalities, MedTech, diagnostics, and digital health technologies, with a track record of translating policy strategy into measurable CMS-related outcomes
Lead and oversee the team responsible for the health policy research workplan, ensuring forward-looking policy solutions are developed across the U.S. Health Policy MedTech and Innovative Medicine agenda, with emphasis on novel payment pathways that support patient access to breakthrough innovation
Direct the team in developing research proposals and budgets, selecting and managing external research partners, and executing end-to-end research that informs legislative and regulatory options, with emphasis on Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rulemaking and implementation, Medicare Part B, Medicare Part D, Medicaid, MedTech coverage and payment pathways, and emerging models for digital technologies and other innovative care solutions
Guide the team in assessing policy options through literature review, policy analysis, evidence generation, and stakeholder input; ensure delivery of trade-off and impact analyses across Medicare and Medicaid, drug pricing reforms, MedTech coverage and payment, and novel reimbursement models for therapies and technologies that do not fit neatly into existing payment systems
Oversee dissemination of policy research and guide development of policy and research reports, white papers, blogs, op-eds, policy commentary, and presentations for internal and external audiences
Brief external stakeholders on research, including trade associations, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Congress, and advocacy partners; present findings and convene roundtables and events to inform and disseminate policy insights
Provide research-based input to state, national, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issue shaping in collaboration with the Issues Council; translate findings into activation packages that clarify the research insight, target decision-maker, timing, and implications for innovative payment, coverage, and access pathways
Support regulatory and legislative engagement, including analysis and messaging to inform comment letters; develop policy education materials to help internal teams understand and act on the policy landscape
Serve as a subject matter resource to internal teams and, as appropriate, media; contribute to U.S. Policy Organization recruiting, professional activities, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
Lead and manage the team responsible for policy planning and coordination across the U.S. Policy Organization and the Policy and Advocacy Collaboration Excellence (PACE) team; set direction, establish priorities, and ensure workplans, governance, and decision-making processes are clearly defined and effectively executed
Provide leadership oversight for business planning processes across the U.S. Policy Organization, including team-level budgeting, long-range planning inputs, business planning program management, vendor management, and contract management, while ensuring the team executes day-to-day planning and operational activities
Set expectations for impact measurement and guide the team in defining, tracking, and communicating metrics with therapeutic area and business unit aligned teams, including outcomes, engagement milestones, policy influence, and return on investment from policy execution
Own strategic direction for the U.S. Policy research agenda in partnership with Innovative Medicine and MedTech policy leaders; ensure the team develops research proposals, budgets, and value cases that reflect the distinct policy, payment, and access needs of pharmaceuticals, medical technologies, diagnostics, and digital health solutions
Oversee the team’s policy monitoring and tracking across state and federal legislative and regulatory developments; ensure the team scans, summarizes, escalates, and translates developments that may affect enterprise priorities, patient access, or innovation policy
Drive operational excellence by leading team-led execution, process optimization, cross-functional coordination, and continuous improvement of U.S. Policy planning and governance systems

Benefits

Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).
This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program.
Vacation –120 hours per calendar year
Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year
Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year
Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child
Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year
Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period
Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year